About Richard E. Mikels

Rick is Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Commercial Law Practice. With over 35 years of experience in commercial law, workouts, and reorganizations, he maintains a national practice, focusing on insolvency issues, business restructurings, and mediations. Rick serves as an adjunct professor of law at Boston University School of Law. He is recognized for his experience on issues related to Chapter 11 reorganizations, and has authored and edited articles and chapters in numerous publications. Rick is a vice president of the American College of Bankruptcy and also serves as the chair of that organization's Education Programs Committee.
Rick is known for representing significant debtor companies (both in Chapter 11 and in out-of-court workouts) including Filene’s Basement, Inc. and Malden Mills Industries, Some of the recent cases Rick has been involved with include, New England Compounding Center, Powerwave Technologies, Inc., Manistique Papers, Inc., Oscient Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Commpartners, LLC, Sleep HealthCenters LLC, Alpha Omega Jewelers and The Upper Crust, LLC. Rick represents various constituencies, including debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, board of directors, insurance companies, hedge funds, claims traders, and acquirers of businesses.
Rick has conducted several mediations of commercial law disputes. He serves as the Chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute Subcommittee drafting Model Bankruptcy Rules for Mediation. Rick is also on the faculty of the Bankruptcy Mediation Course conducted by the American Bankruptcy Institute and Saint John’s University.
Rick’s reputation for excellence in the bankruptcy and insolvency field is well-noted. He is often cited in leading publications, such as Reuters, Dow Jones, and the Boston Globe, and he has also appeared on national television on CNBC.
Recognitions & Awards:
• Chambers USA: Massachusetts (Star Individual) – Bankruptcy/Restructuring (2004 – 2013)
• Best Lawyers in America: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and
Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy (1983 – 2014)
• Boston Best Lawyers: Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Lawyer of the Year (2010)
• Boston Best Lawyers: Litigation – Bankruptcy Lawyer of the Year (2013)
• Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyers in any field (2004 – 2012)
• Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Top 10 Lawyers in any field (2007 – 2008)
• Massachusetts Super Lawyers: Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights (2004 – 2012)
• Silver Shingle Award for Distinguished Service to the School of Law, Boston University (2004)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
• Honored at the American College of Bankruptcy’s 10th Annual First Circuit Reception for “his distinguished service as First Circuit Regent, and for his many contributions to the practice of bankruptcy law” (2010)
• Past national board member, American Bankruptcy Institute
• Past director, New England Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association

Articles by Richard E. Mikels

A central principal of bankruptcy is that a debtor should have the benefit of a “fresh start.” However, to accord such relief, the Bankruptcy Code, Bankruptcy Rules, and case law require transparency from the debtor and other parties in interest. As such, strict compliance with reporting requirements is a primary responsibility of a debtor in […]